Do you sometimes wake up with a tension headache or soreness in your jaw or face? Do you have tooth sensitivity and worn enamel on your teeth? Has your sleep partner complained about the grinding noises you make at night? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, you may have sleep bruxism, a condition in which you subconsciously grind or clench your teeth at night.
Some people grind their teeth on occasion, especially during stressful periods. Chronic bruxism can lead to headaches, jaw pain, damaged teeth, and TMD (temporomandibular disorders).
Possible Causes of Bruxism
Although doctors cannot point to a clear cause of bruxism in everyone, some potential causes may include:
Physical Conditions
- Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Acid reflux
- Sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea)
- Earache or teething pain (in children)
- Complications from Huntington’s Disease
Psychological Stresses
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Tension
Personality Types
- Hyperactive
- Aggressive
- Competitive
Effects of Drugs or Medications
- Use of tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, or methamphetamines
- Antidepressants
- Psychiatric medications
Regardless of the cause of your bruxism, it’s important to protect your teeth from the effects of the grinding. At Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi we can help. Dr. Jose David Sanchez can treat your bruxism in a variety of ways.
Dental Correction
Dr. Sanchez can assess the level of damage caused by grinding your teeth and plan your correction treatment accordingly. In severe cases, this may include reshaping the chewing surfaces of your teeth or using crowns to help them once again function properly.
Orthodontics
If your bruxism is caused by misaligned teeth, Dr. Sanchez has over 42 years dental experience. He can help set you straight (pun intended) with braces, if necessary.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sometimes bruxism is caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Dr. Sanchez will take a CT scan of your mouth and can fit you with a custom made oral appliance that addresses the cause of your sleep disorder and your bruxism.
Protective Wear
It may be necessary to experiment a bit with stress management techniques, behavior therapies, or other methods of addressing your nighttime teeth grinding habits. Tehachapi dentist, Dr. Sanchez, can help get you fitted for a custom made splint or mouth guard. Depending on your needs and preferences, this device will be made from either hard acrylic or soft materials to fit over your upper or lower teeth. This protective wear is designed to be worn at night to keep your teeth separated and avoid the damage caused by grinding.
We are here to help.
If you suspect you might be grinding your teeth at night, come in to Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi and we can help you address it before it causes any further damage. Even if it turns out that you have only occasional grinding or mild bruxism, we can help you monitor the situation and eliminate possible causes. Schedule an appointment and we will do everything we can to help you determine the causes, address the symptoms, and correct any resulting damage. Book online or give call our Tehachapi dental office at (661) 822-3727.
About Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi
Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi provides comprehensive dental care to the people of Kern County in a friendly and comfortable environment. Under the ownership of Dr. Jose David Sanchez, Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi focuses on the placement of dental implants, tooth restoration, IV sedation and dental anesthesia, making it among the most experienced dental offices in Tehachapi. Dr. Sanchez offers same day dental implant surgery for Kern County residents. He is a member of several prestigious dental organizations, including Fellow of Misch International Implant Institute, Fellow of International Congress of Oral Implantologists, Fellow of Global Dental Implant Academy, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and California Dental Society of Anesthesiology. Dr. Sanchez continues to take hundreds of hours of continuing education courses yearly and stays up to date with the latest technology. This additional training, along with his 46 years of experience, makes Jose David Sanchez, D.D.S. one of the best dentists in Tehachapi.
For more information, contact Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi at DentistTehachapi.com or call (661) 822-3727.
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